Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill has apologised for an "inappropriate comment" he made during an Irish radio event last week and says that he will attempt to avoid such incidents for the rest of his tenure.
O'Neill was speaking to Today FM presenter Matt Cooper on stage in Cork last Wednesday when he joked about his trip to the Super Bowl with Roy Keane, quipping that he and the former Manchester United captain were not "queers".
"Yes I was going to address this, if I have made inappropriate comments in the Opera House in Cork on Wednesday evening I obviously apologise for it ," O'Neill told reporters.
"And I will attempt for the rest of my time here not to make such inappropriate comments."
The remark was subsequently cut from the broadcast version of the interview, but, speaking to the Sunday Times Kieran Rose, chairman of the Gay and Lesbian equality network, described O'Neill's use of the derogatory term as "deeply regrettable".
O'Neill's apology for making "inappropriate comments" follows his ill-fated joke about players' wives and girlfriends in March.
When asked if he would allow 'WAGS' to join his players at Euro 2016, O'Neill jokingly said: "It depends on how good looking the girls are. If they’re really attractive, they’re very welcome.
"The uglier ones I’m afraid not."
Ireland fly to France on Wednesday June 8, where they will continue preparations for their Euro 2016 opener against Sweden from their base in Versailles.
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